Paloma Valdivia

Our invited artist for 2021 is Chilean author and illustrator PALOMA VALDIVIA.

Paloma works as an illustrator of books and music videos, but she also enjoys writing, drawing, and riding a bicycle. Her main occupation, however, is the creation of picture books for children. Her work as an author has been translated into over 15 languages. Among other acknowledgements, she has received the following awards: BIB PLAQUE of the XVIII Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (Slovakia); Best Designed Book of the Year, by Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission (the German Commission for UNESCO – 2014); the Santiago Municipal Literature Award (Chile) as well as the Little Bird Award (USA) and the Medalla Colibrí (Hummingbird Medal) IBBY Chile, just to name a few.

Some of the Publishing Houses that work with Paloma, or publish her books, are: Amanuta, Chile / Fondo de Cultura Económica de México / La Joie de Lire, Switzerland / Peirópolis, Brazil / Enchanted Lion Books, United States / Kalandraka, Spain / Iwasaki, Japan / Fatatrac, Italy / Groundwood, Canada.

In her own words: “drawing and storytelling fascinate me, but what I truly find most enchanting is childhood, the one children are living today and our own, long-past ones…”. So, in 2019, together with Mónica Bombal, she created Ediciones Liebre, which combines the publishing of books and the creation of applications exclusively designed for children. In 2019, the publishing house was recognized by IBBY (Chile) as having the best compilation of children’s literature. Its titles were selected for the White Ravens list (Germany) and the annual selection of the Cuatrogatos Foundation (USA).

Paloma was also a lecturer at the Catholic University of Chile, in charge of the “Illustration and Autobiographical Narrative” program. As a creative, she also decorated her country’s stand in the previous Bologna International Children’s Book Fair (Italy 2019), and it was breathtakingly beautiful.

During Kolibrí Festivaali, we will have the chance to visit the exhibition of her illustrated work: “NOSOTROS” (Us) from 23.9.2021 to 10.10.2021 in Vuotalo (Helsinki). The exhibition is curated by Ina Fiebig.

You are all welcome to attend the opening on September 23 at 5 PM. Paloma will be present online. Free entrance.

During Kolibrí, Paloma will perform three workshops online from her home in Chile: one for babies, one for children from 1 to 4 years old, and the last one for children older than 5 years old. All will have the opportunity to create, sing and have fun with Paloma. The workshops will be take place at Sello Library and at the cultural centers of Vuotalo and Pessi.

Palomas’ books will be available for purchase in Kolibrí’s Children’s Book Fair on September 25, from 12am-4pm in Vuotalo.

The participation of Paloma Valdivia is possible thanks to the support of the Embassy of Chile in Finland and the Direction of Cultural Affairs of Chile, Vuotalo, the Ibero-American Institute of Finland, Liebre Editions, and the publishing houses Amanuta and Kalandraka.

Our special thanks go to Isol Misenta, Patricia Oksa, Ina Fiebig, Yvapurü Samaniego Bonnin, and to the Board of our association, Kulttuurikeskus Ninho.